“Make urban poor Filipinos a priority” demands Kadamay

Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap, a national center and alliance for urban poor concerns and campaigns was once again disappointed in the lack of discourse on the plight of millions of informal settlers. The last round of presidential debates tackled an additional heap of national questions yet failed to even mention the depressing state of housing and livelihood in the country. Millions are working in the informal sector whose homes are constantly at risk of being demolished which will in turn exile their families according to Kadamay.

“The massive displacement of poor Filipinos is not only vital but an urgent matter. Our disappointment is only offset by our demand for the issues of the urban poor and development to be addressed. Ever since we can remember, informal settlers have been treated as obstacles to development when in fact they contribute a lot to the economy and can do so much more. Jobs, wages, housing, on-site development and most pressingly an end to violent demolitions and commercialized housing in relocation sites is what urban poor Filipinos long for,” said Gloria “Ka Bea” Arellano, Kadamat National Chairperson.

While the group thought that positive steps were taken during the debate that confronted the trend of contractualization as harmful to workers, it remains to be seen how this will be handled.

“When faced with a glaring example of contractual work it is hard not to see the innate oppression it bears. However, we have yet to see concrete steps taken by any of the candidates towards resolving these types of working class issues. Mar Roxas and the Daang Matuwid in particular have aggravated the problem. The Aquino administration has pressed wages down and virtually institutionalized ENDO. Si Mar at ang gobyernong kumakanlong sa kanya ang mga nagpalago ng endo sa bansa. Kahit ang ganitong tapatan ay di ligtas sa kasinungalingan,” said Arellano.

At present the group was most worried about the state of demolitions nationwide after the election period. Traditionally, during the campaign there is an unspoken rule that public officials do not engage in massive evictions to safeguard their votes. What comes after is the problem.

“Mahal na mahal kami ng mga kandidato tuwing kampanya. Pero matapos ang botohan, itutuloy na lahat ng demolisyon, karahasan at pagtatapon sa aming maralita! Napakatagal nang ganito at dapat matigilan na. Sinasamantala ang boto at paghihirap naming para lamang kami’y palayasin at pahirapan pa lalo. Ngayon pa lamang hinahamon naming ang lahat ng kandidato na tumindig kontra-demolisyon at pabor sa tunay na kaunlaran ng maralita,” said Arellano.

Arellano also mentioned that even during campaign they were still demolition efforts in Quezon City and Cebu. Still she expects worse immediately after the voting. ###